The project might be over, but the legacy lives on

On 21 October, the Åland project partners of Light in the Dark – Åland University of Applied Sciences and Visit Åland – gathered local SMEs, tourism stakeholders, university students, cross-border partners and locals for a last local celebration of the Light in the Dark project.

The day highlighted the successes, insights, stories, new products, project SMEs, and practical tools that have come out of the project.

Creating the right setting

When planning the day, we had a strong desire to let the event itself convey the nature and spirit of the project. Havsvidden Resort, located on the northern tip of the main island, was almost a given. Here, you literally drive to the end of the road, where the rough red granite cliffs and the vast open sea meet you. Words are not enough to describe the place, it simply has to be experienced.

To keep things convenient and more sustainable, we organised a collective bus transport from Mariehamn. As participants arrived, they were greeted in the foyer by scenic views, the scent of fresh coffee and local apples, and as a cherry on top – live piano music by a local musician. After time to mingle the programme started with a warm welcome and a presentation of the project. The manager of Havsvidden, Niko Miklin then took over and shared how they work with and develop the seasons at the resort.

Reconnecting with nature

A project rooted in nature tourism naturally calls for a hands-on outdoor experience. Before lunch, Sara Söderlund from Naawa Nature Awakening in Turku archipelago, took everyone outside for a short nature based workshop. Through simple intentional exercises we used our senses to experience the nature around us. We were reminded of the fact that it is only through actively being in and interacting with nature that we can (re)build a connection to it. Once we open our minds and senses, there is so much to discover – even in the darker quieter seasons.

With the smell of the wind still in our hair, we headed inside to enjoy a delicious lunch made from local ingredients.

SME insights, new perspectives and a workshop

The afternoon session kicked-off with the Light in the Dark concept film to bring us all back to the core of the day. This was followed by a panel discussion with local project SMEs and Sara, where they spoke about what the project journey had meant for them. A common thread was a relief of realising they were not alone in the challenges of small scale and off-season business. They shared how valuable it was to gain inspiration from and discuss with other SMEs and how insightful it had been to pilot their new products. Looking ahead, the entrepreneurs highlighted a need for more support with marketing, continued work with the unified Baltic Sea region concept and more opportunities to meet peers in person to see how others build and run their offerings.

Our Keynote speaker, Linda Vismer from Move Consulting in Sweden, challenged us to rethink how we speak about seasonality. Instead of “high” and “low” seasons, she suggested shifting our vocabulary to quantitative and qualitative seasons. With many hand on examples and some interactive exercises she inspired us to expand our mindsets and see new connections and possibilities.

Before wrapping up, participants took part in a hands-on workshop where they got to use and work with the resources and tools created in the Light in the Dark project. Exploring materials and tools in a playful and fun way lowered the threshold for participants to use them in their daily operations moving forward.

The journey continues

Light in the Dark has been a journey, but it does not end here. It lives on – through the new connections made, the new off-season products created, the joint Baltic Sea marketing concept, the research. insights and ideas gathered along the way, and of course through the memories of all those who somehow came in contact with the project.

And not to forget, it lives on in the form of the Light in the Dark project website which will be alive for five years after project conclusion. Here you can find all studies, material, tools and links, gathered in one place.

Together, we create light in the dark. Together we put the Baltic Sea region on the map – as one destination rich in possibilities and breathtaking nature. A region where less truly is more.

Helena von Schoultz Project Manager,
Åland University of Applied Sciences

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